1423 China Kitchen: The Closest You’ll Come To Dining In A Royal Back Garden
While a Windsor dining scene may conjure up ideas of jam and scones, there is a much richer and more diverse selection of restaurants in this quintessentially English town than one might imagine. From Lebanese belly dancing to late-closing French bistros, the late Queen’s favourite home town boasts a plethora of international cuisines, and right at the top of our must-visit list has to be the 1423 China Kitchen.
Found on a cobbled street linking the famous castle to Charles and Camilla’s wedding venue of the famous Guildhall, 1423 China Kitchen is a close as you can get to dining in a Royal back garden. Housed in a quaint two storey grade 2 listed building, believed to date back to the 1400s, the exterior is unassuming but once inside an authentic and inviting restaurant awaits.
The restaurant, well-known to locals but thankfully under-the-radar of visiting hoards of tourists, is dedicated to promoting genuine traditional Chinese cuisine without MSG and additives. The wide variety of dishes on offer gave a tempting glimpse into a Chinese feast showcasing seafood, red meats and white served in traditional sauces and spices. Our server proudly tells us that the house chef uses only the best local products and that many seasonings, spices, and other fresh ingredients are imported directly from Szechuan. We decided to opt for a vegetarian sharing menu which comprised of crisp and cold lettuce wraps served with spicy mixed vegetables and a plate of crispy seaweed, to start and then followed with a mouth-watering selection of mains including sea salt an chilli crispy tofu, and Mapo Tofu, one of the most famous Sichuan dishes which epitomises Sichuan’s culinary culture, cooked with Sichuan pepper, all accompanied by a plate of spicy Singapore noodles with enough fresh veg to satisfy our five-a-day quota.
Authentic in style
The décor at 1423 China Kitchen feels authentic without being cliché. All of the furniture has been hand-made in a classical China style and we learn that the carpenter who created the bespoke pieces came from a famous Beijing family who can trace their business back twelve generations. It is the little touches and details in this smart restaurants story that give it the appeal of a friendly local haunt despite being slap bang in the middle of one of the UK’s most touristy towns.
Service is attentive and the impressive wine list compliments a vast menu that covers all tastes and budgets, from a quick pit-stop lunch to an indulgent evening meal.
So next time you’re in town, stroll past the chains and coffee shops and tuck into a traditionally Chinese treat as you watch the world flock past the window. We were glad of the escape 1423 China Kitchen offered as respite from a hectic day of sightseeing.
